Lesson 3: The A-D-E Family
A new key — and the chords of a thousand rock songs ·
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
- I can form A and E cleanly.
- I can play the A-D-E progression in rhythm.
- I can play 'Garage Door'.
🕸One-Minute Changes3 min
- Pick one chord pair (say G↔C). Set a one-minute timer.
- Count how many clean changes you make — write the number down.
- Beat your own number tomorrow. That's the whole game.
🎸Keys and Families5 min
- Chords come in families (keys): G-C-D was one, A-D-E is another.
- The pattern is I-IV-V: home, away, and the one that pulls you back.
- Know two families and you can fake your way through most jam sessions.
🥁Count It3 min
- Count the rhythm out loud before you play.
- Turn on Counts or the metronome and lock in with it.
- Loop it slowly first; speed comes on its own.
📖Play It7 min
- Read it slowly and cleanly the first time through.
- Drag-select any tricky spot and loop it.
- Use the tempo slider — move up only when it's clean.
🎵Garage Door7 min
- Play 'Garage Door' with some grit — dig in on the E bars.
- Same I-IV-V as 'Round Trip', new neighborhood.
👂Train Your Ear2 min
- Press play on any line above, look away, and listen once through.
- Hum the first bar back, then find it on the guitar by ear.
✨Make It Yours3 min
- Take one idea from this lesson and bend it — change a rhythm, reorder the chords.
- Play your version twice so it sticks.
MY ENDING (write or describe it):
⭐Practice Tracker
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 |
|---|
| Garage Dooronce through, daily | | | | | |
| The A-D-E Familyclean & steady | | | | | |
| Metronome onat least one exercise | | | | | |
| My own variationmake one up | | | | | |
★ Check off each day you play — ten focused minutes counts. Consistency beats marathon sessions.
🍎Teacher Guide
PREP
- The A-D-E Family: A new key — and the chords of a thousand rock songs
COMMON MISTAKES & FIXES
- Rushing ahead of the beat. → Fix: Turn the metronome on and drop the tempo until it feels easy.
- Buzzing or muted notes. → Fix: Press just behind the fret with the fingertip, thumb relaxed behind the neck.
IF STRUGGLING
- Drop the tempo well below comfortable and loop one bar.
- Play just the chord changes (or just the rhythm) before combining.
IF ADVANCED
- Bring it to full tempo with the metronome.
- Add your own variation — a different rhythm, an extra chord.
EXTENSIONS
- Apply tonight's skill to a song you already love.
TALKING POINTS
- I-IV-V in A is the frame of early rock, blues, and country — Chuck Berry ran on these three chords.
✅Assessment
Tap one level per skill — saved on this device.
AccuracyPlays the right notes and chords.
TimingKeeps a steady beat.
ToneNotes and strums ring clean and clear.